King’s new dog sends demand soaring

The monarch is reportedly “besotted” with his new young dog, nicknamed Snuff, who is a Lagotta Romagnolo breed from Italy.

King Charles’s new dog has reportedly sparked a surge in interest for the breed with the UK Kennel Club noting elevated enquiries.The name Lagotto Romangnolo translates as “lake dog from Romagna”.  They are curly coated dogs originally bred to retrieve duck in the marshes of the Romagna region, however their use has now shifted to truffle hunting following the draining of much of the area’s wetlands.

Although the King and Queen Consort are scheduled to visit Ravenna in Italy this April, it is understood that Snuff’s arrival is unrelated to their trip, with Palace sources indicating the puppy was a private gift.

A Palace insider revealed: “Charles is besotted with his puppy. He hasn’t had one since Tigga. The breed is a truffle-hunter and Charles enjoys mushroom foraging, so they have a lot in common.”

The King adopted Tigga, his most well-known dog, during his marriage to Princess Diana. Tigga passed away in 2002 at the age of 18, and is buried in the grounds of his home, Highgrove House.